What is Octal?
Octal is a numeral system based on the number 8. It uses digits ranging from 0 to 7. Octal is commonly used in computer programming, especially in Unix-like operating systems. However, octal numbers may not be as familiar to everyone as decimal or binary numbers.
How to Convert Octal to Decimal?
Converting a number from octal to decimal can be done by following these straightforward steps:
- Step 1: Identify each digit of the octal number, starting from the rightmost digit.
- Step 2: Convey the value of each digit in decimal form.
- Step 3: Multiply each digit by the corresponding power of 8, according to its position from right to left.
- Step 4: Sum up the resulting decimal values obtained in Step 3 to get the final decimal conversion.
Example Conversion:
Let’s take the octal number 237 as an example and convert it to decimal using the steps mentioned above:
- Digit positions: 2 | 3 | 7
- Values in decimal: 2 | 3 | 7
- Multiplication: (2 * 8^2) + (3 * 8^1) + (7 * 8^0)
- Calculations: (2 * 64) + (3 * 8) + (7 * 1)
- Final decimal conversion: 128 + 24 + 7 = 159
Therefore, the octal number 237 converted to decimal is 159.
Converting from octal to decimal may seem daunting at first, but by breaking down the process into simple steps, it becomes remarkably straightforward. Remember to identify the digit values, multiply each digit by the corresponding power of 8, and sum up the results to obtain the decimal conversion. With a little practice, you’ll be able to effortlessly convert octal numbers to decimal.
Ready to dive into more numeral system conversions? Stay tuned for upcoming blog posts that will cover other conversion topics like binary to decimal, hexadecimal to decimal, and more!